Iowans Warm Up To Romney

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Iowans Warm Up To Romney

By: Sean J. Miller

Cityview - Central Iowa's Independent Weekly

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007

"Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, during two campaign stops in the Des Moines area last Wednesday, outlined his plan for increasing the size of the military, confronting international terrorism and providing healthcare to uninsured Americans.

"Romney's message is resonating with Iowa Republicans. The former governor and business consultant enjoys a 12-13 point lead over his rivals Sen. John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani among Republicans caucus-goers polled by The Des Moines Register May 12-16. His growing support in Iowa is reflective of the mood of Republicans, observers say.

"'Republicans want a winner,' says Steve Roberts, former chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa who introduced Romney at the Greater Des Moines Partnership luncheon last Wednesday."

...

"'He's one of our more charismatic candidates. He looks the part, he has a smooth delivery; he's good meeting people one-on-one; he gives an interesting speech,' says Roberts, who doesn't plan to endorse any of the Republican candidates."

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"Romney was governor of Massachusetts from 2003-07, during which time he had to contend with a Democratic-controlled legislature. Romney's record as governor is something that many Iowa Republicans say would make him a good president. Paul Bissinger, a Romney supporter from Clive, says he has 'administrative ability.'

"'For a Republican to become governor of Massachusetts and bring the size of the government down, that's what this country needs,' he says."

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"Don Austin, a retired Marine who lives in Waukee, says he supports Romney's idea of increasing the size of the military. 'I don't think it's fair to take the National Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan when we may need them here,' Austin says."

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"Art Newman, a facilities manager from West Des Moines, says Romney has a deeper understanding of the war on terror than the other Republican presidential candidates.

"'He has real world understanding that there's a difference between a Muslim and a jihadist,' he says. Adding, it's an understanding that likely comes from Romney being a Mormon, a minority religious group in America. 'We have to be very careful about stereotyping large groups of people,' Newman says.

"Romney's campaign organization also swayed Newman. 'He's got people on the ground who know what they're doing. I haven't seen another candidate that comes within 10 percent of his level of organization,' he says." ...